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Thank you, La Brea Bakery, for hosting me (and Joe!) at Meat Carnival!
Recently I had the opportunity to attend a special event in Napa, California: Meat Carnival. We were delighted when La Brea Bakery invited Joe and me to attend. Meat Carnival is a unique dining experience in the Bay Area. Each event brings a slew of chefs with pop ups featuring different meat and pairings. Throughout the evening, you'll watch them prepare a variety of meat dishes and (here's the twist) you'll get to sample them with your hands. Don't worry -- there are tons of handwashing stations and the chefs keep everything very sanitary. It's a one-of-a-kind experience so let's dive more into the details!
What was the experience like?
This event moves around and the location is shared a week in advance. For the particular night we attended, Meat Carnival was hosted by Napa Yard (across the street from Oxbow Market). While the event started at 6:30PM, we arrived at 6PM. Parking was easy and there was a short line; we waited about five minutes to check in. Once the event started, everyone washed their hands and then we all slowly made our way through the various stations. I believe there were eight stations in total. The flow was excellent -- there was a few stations near the entrance, then a garden, with the remaining stations and band by the river. There were two bars and tons of hand-washing stations throughout the event.
The chef tables had one or two offerings and changed out their dishes every 30 minutes. Honestly the best part of the event might have been the demos, as the chefs transitioned to their next dish. It was fascinating to see them at work and hear about the ingredients they chose to combine. We tried the most tender ribs with fresh pomegranate poured on top, beef carpaccio with cherries and parmesan, monkey bread stuffed with brisket and topped with apricot BBQ sauce, and so much more.
In addition to delicious meat, there were other excellent ingredients used at this event. La Brea Bakery was heavily featured, with their artisan bread. Their bread was smoked and grilled to pair with some of the meat offerings. We sampled the bread, along with faux gras and shakshuka. It was interesting to try both meat-focused and vegetarian dishes, along side this tasty bread. After enjoying food prepared by 20+ chefs, we were delighted to be greeted by Otis Spunkmeyer cookies on our way out.
Who is this event for?
Truly any foodie (who eats meat!) will love this event. As there is an open wine bar, this event is strictly 21+. They offered four types of wine at two different bars. Even as someone who isn't a big drinker, I was thrilled to see plenty of non-alcoholic options as well -- sparkling cider, non-alcoholic chardonnay and plenty of ice water. I noticed a lot of attendees were celebrating (birthdays or anniversaries) so this would be a great gift for a special occasion. If you let them know that you're celebrating a birthday, they give you a gold crown. I noticed this token led to extra little perks (getting to come behind the table to interact with the chef or getting a giant turkey leg).
How can I make the most of this event?
This event is outside and requires a fair amount of standing. I highly recommend wearing layers and comfortable shoes. Come hungry -- you'll be sampling so many different things! Also, make sure to pace yourself because there are so many dishes to try 🙂 Drink lots of water (earlier in the day and throughout the event). Make sure to wear sunscreen, as the events start before dark. If you get allergies (like me!), take any necessary allergy medication; the event we attended was in a rustic setting that stirred up my allergies.
Thank you again, La Brea Bakery, for hosting us at Meat Carnival!
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